Page 32 of Curses & Keys
“Let’s go,” I order the team, heading toward the SUV. “She couldn’t have gone too far.”
“Some unsolicited advice I’m sure you’ll ignore,” Maverick calls out behind me. “She’s been on her own for longer than you’ve been alive. Don’t demand her trust; earn it.”
The black Maserati next to us roars to life and flies out of the hangar with Charlie at the wheel. He flips Maverick the bird as the car shoots into the night.
“Fuck!” Maverick roars behind us.
If I weren’t so pissed off myself, I’d smile. “Mathias, can you track her?” I get into the passenger seat.
After sliding in the back next to Hawthorne, he fiddles with his phone for a second, then shakes his head. “No, she turned off her phone.”
Gatlin slides into the driver’s seat. “Where to?”
“Your place,” I tell him, thoughts swirling. “She won’t go back to the condo. Can you check the cameras in her office and the gym?”
Mathias looks down at his phone. “I’ve gotten no alerts from her office.” He taps and slides his finger across the phone. “She’s not at the gym. Or her friend Cara’s.”
I hadn’t realized Mathias had bugged Cara’s place. Damn, he’s thorough. “We’ve missed something.” My phone rings, and I see her name. “It’s her.”
Hawthorne reaches around and takes my phone. “You’re too angry to be civil.” He hands it to Mathias. “Talk to her.”
When I hear him give her Gatlin’s address, I realize she’s coming back to us, and it’s as if a switch flips inside me. I swing from fury to relief, then back to fury. Magic sparks between my hands. Silence reigns in the vehicle, but their concern is obvious.
Besides Gatlin’s surliness, the rest of us are not prone to emotional outbursts. It’s why we work so well together. Coolheaded logic rules our group. But ever since I saw her on that roof with bullets flying, I’ve been on edge, filled with the need to wage war against our enemies. Knowing she willingly left our protection pushes me to the precipice.
What did Maverick say? Earn her trust. I don’t expect Phaedra to trust us. Or to inform me of her every move. Hell, I’ve been half expecting her to bolt all night. So why am I so furious?
I take a deep breath and think about it. Because I don’t allow anyone to threaten my team. They mean everything to me. A bond that supersedes anything else. Somehow…she’s slid under my armor, become one of us. Her role undefined but there, nonetheless. The thought startles me, and some of my anger settles.
We get back to Gatlin’s place, and I hop out of the vehicle. “I’m going to wait for her out here.”
Gatlin grunts in disagreement but slams the door and leaves. Mathias follows him without saying a word.
Hawthorne stops beside me. “Try to remember she’s not a member of our team and someone you can order around. If you do, she’ll leave. For good. Phaedra’s independent, and as Maverick pointed out, she’s been around a long time. Be honest with her.” He opens his mouth to say something else but closes it after a second.
I’ve noticed him watching her, trying to figure her out. Most of the time, he avoids women, except when necessary. Yet, he seeks her out. When she talks, he listens. Intently. None of us trusts anyone outside of our circle, but the fact that he just spoke up on her behalf is a huge indication of which way he’s leaning.
He tilts his head to the side and gives me one last warning, then leaves me standing there alone.
Hawthorne is wrong. I don’t want to order her like she’s a member of the team. I want her to join us. Willingly. On mutual terms. But he’s right too. She has to make that decision for herself.
19
PHAEDRA
Charlie’s motorcycle cuts my commute time in half. At the farmhouse, I’m in and out in less than five, and ready to head back when I realize I don’t know where I’m going. While the helmet has Bluetooth, I don’t dare call Jamison from it. Who knows what kind of tracking Charlie installed on it.
Sighing, I stop the bike, pull off the helmet, and pick up my lovely encrypted phone and dial. Instead of Jamison’s crisp British accent, a deliciously smooth voice answers. “Mathias.”
I pull the phone away from my ear. Nope, I dialed Jamison. He must be more pissed than I thought. I’m tempted to hang up and do this on my own. Seconds go by while I sit and mull over my options. I breathe in and out a few times. Finally, I grit my teeth and ask for the address.
“Good choice,” Mathias says coolly, then relays the information before hanging up.
I wipe a hand across my brow. That was a hell of a lot harder than I expected. Over the years, I’ve made some ironclad rules about working with others. My network supplies what I need, and I pay them for it. Clean. Easy. Limited interaction. I might wish for friends, but it’s safer on my own. Lonely, but at least I’m not endangering anyone else.
This…Jamison…thing is already messy and full of everything that can go wrong. Not to mention the attraction between Hawthorne and me. All these years spent by myself, I’ve never felt the urge to change my ways for anyone or put my identity at risk. With them, I find myself wanting to show them who I am, share my secrets, and it’s terrifying. How do I keep some distance between us?
For a second more, I contemplate disappearing. There are plenty of places to hide in the world, although they’re shrinking by the decade. My hands tighten on the handles, as if rebelling against the thought, and I blow out a breath. Putting the helmet back on, I take off.
